Judge dismisses extra defendants in Bowling lawsuit

OXFORD – A civil lawsuit may continue against Monroe County School District and former coach Dwight Bowling, but not with extra defendants, a federal judge said late Friday.
The lawsuit, filed by a man who claims Bowling sexually assaulted him while the man was a child, claims the school district also is responsible for Bowling’s acts.
Senior U.S. District Judge Neal B. Biggers Jr. ordered claims dismissed against school officials William “Bo” Stevens, John Chrestman, who is deceased, and Billy “Bubba” Tacker. Their names were added to the lawsuit after its initial filing, prompted by an anonymous letter to the Daily Journal by a woman who said she complained to the district about Bowling’s advances to her son.
Biggers reversed an earlier appeal by Magistrate David Sanders, who ruled the men could be added to the lawsuit.
Biggers said the three-year statute of limitations had passed by the time they were added.
The original lawsuit will remain, the judge said. He also ruled against the letter’s use.
“The plaintiff will have available to him any admissible evidence of alleged wrongful actions and omissions to present against MCSD at trial,” Biggers added.
The lawsuit is due for trial this summer.
Bowling is serving a lengthy federal prison term for his guilty pleas that he transported minors across state lines for sex and attempted to tamper with a witness. He also has a state sentence awaiting him afterward for a conviction on similar charges.
patsy.brumfield@journalinc.com